Combined indicator and paper-holder for type-writers.



No. 667,690. Patented Fe'b. l2, [90L E. H. ELDREDGE.

C6MB|NED INDICATOR AND PAPER HOLDER FOR TYPE WRITERS. (Application Oct. 19, 1900 (No Model.)

WITNESSES v m vslvrofi W New. mm ca, mom-Luna. WWW... p c.

Uivnrnn STATES ATENT FFICE.

ELI H. ELDREDGE, OF YEADON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,690, dated February 12, 1901.

Application filed October 19,1900. Serial No. 33,544. (No model-I- To all whom it; may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELI H. ELDREDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yeadon, county of Delaware, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Indicator and Paper-Holder for Type-W'riters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to typewriters.

My first object is to provide a device suitable for attachment to type-writers most ordinarily provided with indicators, (such as the Remington,) which shall at a glance indicate to the operator, when the platen-frame is swung upwardly on its hinge, precisely the point on the paper where a letter will be impressed by the type-bar at the next pressure of a key.

My second object is to provide means supplementary to the ordinary paper or envelop guide feed-rollers and shifting side paperholders for holding a card or sheet of paper flat against the face of the platen at the printing-point, whereby it will be possible to print on the extreme upper or lower edge of the card with the same neatness and certainty that it is now possible to print at any other point.

My third object is to provide a single device which will perform this double function of line and letter indicator and card-holder.

On machines of the Remington type there are usually two spacing-rules provided, both carried by the platen-frame, one on the platenframe adjacent to the platen and one on the outer edge of the platen-frame. When the platen-frame is swung down, the last-named rule extends opposite a pointer or indicator, which is fixed to the frame of the machine. The spaces on the rules correspond in width to the width of a letter and the spaces are numbered on each rule, the numbering running from right to left on one rule and from left to right on the other rule. In order to strike a letter at a particular point on the paper, the carriage must first be swung upwardly and the number on the rule adjacent to the platen opposite the space at which it is desired to impress the paper must be noted.

Then the carriage must be swung down and shifted laterally until the point-er is opposite the numbered space on the outside rule corresponding to the numbered space on the inside rule. It frequently happens that the operator, having ceased type-writing for a 'mo= ment, is in doubt as to whether the carriage has been shifted a space. Again, it is often necessary to correct a letter in a word that has been previously printed. Again, in tabulating work it is essential that the words or figures on successive lines should exactly aline with each other. In fact, an indefinite number of contingencies may arise and constantly do arise which renders it necessary to shift the carriage laterally in one direction or the other to the exact position required for printing the letter at the proper point. In all these cases the same elaborate calculation has to be made,resu1ting in loss of time and frequent mistakes.

My invention consists in a device having the structural characteristics, hereinafter described, and performing the stated functions, which device is capable of application to the ordinary type-writer.

In the drawings I have shown the device applied to a Remington type-writer, although it will be understood that it may be applied to other makes of machines as it stands or with suitable modifications such as will occur to the ordinary skilled mechanic.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a type-writer, showing the position of the device when the platen-frame is raised. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, the full lines indicating the position of the parts when the platenframe is raised and the dotted lines indicating successive positions of the parts when the platen-frame is swung down into successive positions toward the horizontal.

I have not shown the entire mechanism of the type-writer, but just sufficient of the main parts of a Remington machine to clearly illustrate the application of my invention thereto.

A is the main frame; B, the rod on which the sliding carriageslides; O, the sliding carriage; D D, rollers on same engaging rod B; E, rod on sliding carriage, on which the swinging frame is hinged; F, the swinging frame carrying the platen and forming part of the sliding carriage; G, the platen; g, the platenshaft; H,the swinging-frame guiding and supporting rod on the front of the main frame; I, the roller on the front of the swinging frame engaging rod H; J, the usual paper and envelop guide; K, the feed-rollers for feeding and holding the paper; L, the shiftable paper-holders, and M the lines on the holders K for indicating the line on which the type strikes. These and the remaining parts represent some of the ordinary parts of a type-writer of the Remington type.

N is a supporting-bracket secured to the rear of the main frame, extending forward, and having the upwardly-projecting lugs 01 'n.

R is a rod between the lugs.

O is my combined holder and indicator pivoted on the rod R. The rod may, if desired, be fixed relatively to O and rotatable in its bearing in the lugs. I have shown 0 as consisting of the two arms 0 0, joined together at the top and forming an opening 0 between them, the indicating-point P being offset with respect to each arm 0 and in longitudinal alinement with the opening 0.

For the purposes of an indicator one of the arms 0 may be dispensed with.

Q is a spring between the rod R and the combined holder and indicator 0, tending to force the latter toward the platen with the desired degree of pressure.

The point P is bent away from the platen, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby when the plate is swung down the paper and envelop guide J will engage it and force it out of engagement with the platen until J has cleared O. The latter is also provided with a swell 0 which is so located that it will engage with spring-pressu re the platen when the latter is swung down in position for printing.

When the machine is operated, the type will clear the arms 0 0 and pass between them, and when the platen is lifted the point P will just clear a line drawn along the lower edge of the line of printed letters and will also indicate the exact space where the next character will be printed when the platen is lowered and the machine operated. In tabulating work this is especially valuable. So if it becomes desirable to print at any particular point on a variable-space machine the gages M M need not be relied upon, as the latter at best are uncertain guides, unless the operator has a very accurate eye, the indicating-point P serving to indicate the exact line of printing.

In view of the spring-pressed engagement of O with the platen when the machine is in operation it will be understood that it acts effectively as a holder as well as an indicator, and is especially valuable in type-writing stiff cards. It is impossible in the ordinary machine to print satisfactorily on the edge of such a card, as the holders L only clamp the ends and are ineffective to prevent the bulging out of the card at the center. Not

only this, but the use of the guides L may in some cases be dispensed with.

N is an adjusting-screw for raising or lowering the front of the bracket N, which is made of thin sheet metal, and therefore suffiiently elastic to permit any necessary slight adjustment. This afiords means for accurately adjusting vertically the indicatingpoint P.

The swell 0 is placed in aline'ment with the side guides L, so that as the carriage approaches the end of its travel the guide L will engage swell 0 and automatically stop the carriage.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writer, the combination, with the main frame, the sliding carriage, and the swinging platen, of a device pivoted to a fixed part of the main frame and extending upwardly toward and in front of the platen when the same is in its raised position, a spring adapted to maintain the device in engagement with the platen, said device being curved successively outwardly, inwardly, outwardly, and inwardly, whereby the inward bend nearest the free end is in contact with the platen when the same is raised, and whereby, when the same is swung down, the inward bend nearest the free end and the inward bend nearest the pivot of the device will be successively engaged by the platen, and whereby, when the platen is in its normal depressed position, the inward bend nearest the pivot of the device is in spring-pressed contact with the platen and the inward bend nearest the free end of the device is out of contact with the platen.

2. In a type-writer, the combination, with the main frame, the sliding carriage, the swinging platen and the paper and envelop guide carried by the platen, of a bracket secured to the rear of the frame and extending out underneath the front of the carriage, a longitudinally-slotted device pivoted thereto and extending upwardly toward and in front of the platen when the same is in its raised position, a spring adapted to maintain the device in engagement with the platen, said device being curved successively outwardly, inwardly, outwardly, inwardly and outwardly, whereby the inward bend nearest the free end is in contact with the platen when the same is raised, and whereby, when the same is swung down, the inward bend nearest the free end and the inward bend nearest the pivot of the device will be successively engaged by the paper and envelop guide and platen respectively, and whereby, when the platen is in its normal depressed position, the inward bend nearest the pivot of the device is in spring-pressed contact with the platen and the inward bend nearest the free end of the device is out of contact with the platen, said device acting as an indicator in its raised position and as a paper or card holder in its depressed position,substantially as described.

3. In a type-writer, the combination, with the platen, of a device pivoted to the ma- In testimony of which invention I have chine beneath the platen and having at its hereunto set my hand at Philadelphia, Pennfree end an indicating-pointer, and a guide sylvania, on this 18th day of October, 1900. I0

at the end of the platen the said device hav- 'ELI H. ELDREDGE. 5 ing a bow or swell in alinement With said Witnesses:

guide and adapted to contact with the same M. F. ELLIS,

as the platen approaches the end of its travel. M. M. HAMILTON. 

